it would have made more sense if Gandalf did this before leaving the misty mountains. take me down to the woodland realm where the trees are green and the elf women are pretty....Oh will you please take me home!!

PJ is directing makes sense (not always in a bad way) ;-) So as someone mentioned before i really believe they leave it open where exactly the High Fells are. And to be honest, most of the audience wont ask or will be interested in.

http://www.thelandofshadow.com/mordorcast-the-mysteries-of-the-high-fells-of-of-rhudaur/ take me down to the woodland realm where the trees are green and the elf women are pretty....Oh will you please take me home!!

But my reasons were based on a hunch, while yours are based on solid logic! Thanks for explaining. I doubt very much the movie will show exactly where the high fells are or how Gandalf gets there and back again...

...although I suspect Rhosgobel Rabbits may be involved. After all, they got Radagast over the Misty Mountains in a bunny sled. "I left the night, with its remote and singing stars, and came in, to the glow of the fire, and the chair where he had been sitting, and the unstrung harp." --The Last Enchantment

The Coldfells are a minor Tolkien location, and are probably the most likely place for the Tombs. However, I suggest we look North to the Ettenmoors. They certainly pose a possible location for the Kings to rest, being a shifty group of harsh mountains. Gandalf even supposes the mountain trolls came down from the Ettenmoors, which hints at their possible evil reputation. "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement."

Nobody has a precise idea and nothing is "approved" or "official" as of late. "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement."

I think PJ said that there would an opportunity to realize Gandalf's story as he disappears from Bilbo and the Dwarves around the time that DoS starts, I think. That means there is plenty of time for him to cross over the mountains and investigate the high fells. I don't think it will show him recrossing the mountains, as that's not the point, but i think it was the original intent for bilbo and thorin to cross over the mountains, but in taking refuge in the cave, they got ambushed and taken inside the mountain to the Goblin King. So it is possible that Gandalf could go back and forth easily enough, over the mountains.

I don't think the high fells necessarily has to be a flashback or occur between WC and Goblintown, although it makes sense that gandalf would aid the party across the moutains and then take leave for the assault on Dol Goldur which is also on the same side of the mountains. But it's been shown in the past that Gandalf can get around. For instance, in fotr, Gandalf rides to Minas Tirith to scour the archives for his suspicions. In the book, this may have occurred over many years but the film has no need to emphasize timing or logistics per se. years could have easily haved passed in the film as well, but the point is well taken that Gandalf travels and reaches the destination he needs to be to conduct his research. I see the High Fells in a similar light. Gandalf didn't teleport himself to these areas, the story merely presumes that the journey to the place had to have taken time and energy, it just doesn't show it. Thus, I think it is a possibility that Gandalf leaves the party and goes to the fells in present time. what you think?